Chastened Republicans—still stinging after Tuesday's electoral repudiation and barely clinging to their last governmental bastion, the House of Representatives—appear more willing to bow to the conciliatory demands of their tanned pack leader, John Boehner.

A fiery explosion in Indianapolis, shattering windows and doors and waking people up for miles, flattened two houses just before midnight—killing two people at least, forcing the evacuations of 200 more, and wrecking or severely damaging three dozen other nearby homes. The cause remains a mystery.

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF TV'S SHERMAN HEMSLEY WILL STAR IN A NEW TRIAL OPENING THIS WEEK. IN LIGHT OF THAT NEWS, SOMEONE APPARENTLY FOUND FOOTAGE OF THE DEAD HEMSLEY, ACCOMPANIED BY AN EXCELLENT AND LIVELY GOSPEL TUNE, MAKING HIS FINAL WALK TO HEAVEN.